After punching through the American lines in the middle of Dec44 the armored group of LSSAH commanded by Jochen Peiper was surrounded,out of fuel and running low on all types of ammo. They held a strong hilltop position in the town of LeGleize,Belgium but they knew they were on borrowed time.
A call was put out by the commander of LSSAH to the Luftwaffe begging for support in the air from fighters and jabos and also resupply. In the middle of the night 5 Ju52s carrying fuel and ammo in drop canisters made the attempt. The lumbering obsolete planes had to dodge the allied nightfighters and flak from not only American but German AAA batteries as by that point in the war,no German AAA ever expected their own planes to be in the sky. ! We can only be sure one of the planes actually arrived over the battlegroup,guided in by machine guns firing tracers straight up from the surrounded pocket at regular intervals. The few canisters that were recovered gave the German enough fuel only to power the generators for the command radios. Most of the drop went down in Allied lines or in no-mans' land.
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Desperate Times at LeGleize.
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
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Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 02:01 AM UTC
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 02:07 AM UTC
My little vignette is based on a personal anecdote written by one of the poor guys that was tasked to recover the canisters. They tried to remember where each one landed and then made a dash for the ones that looked possible to get to.
The unit that was on that sector of the ring were the grenadiers of the III/2SS PzGrenRegt. For sure some tankmen also participated. I only want to make a small scene with thee guys so.
Here I have gathered the basic bits for the Grenadiers,
They both have Hornet heads as does the Dragon tanker fig. The grenadiers are from ICM.
The unit that was on that sector of the ring were the grenadiers of the III/2SS PzGrenRegt. For sure some tankmen also participated. I only want to make a small scene with thee guys so.
Here I have gathered the basic bits for the Grenadiers,
They both have Hornet heads as does the Dragon tanker fig. The grenadiers are from ICM.
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 02:10 AM UTC
I scratchbuilt the canister with the bottom part removed. It had small fins on it and the chute was attached to that bottom part as well.
I have to modify the grab handles as I discovered they were foldable.
Started morphing the guys into later model smocks and adding bulk to th trousers as well.
I have to modify the grab handles as I discovered they were foldable.
Started morphing the guys into later model smocks and adding bulk to th trousers as well.
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 02:11 AM UTC
It is progressing but obviously still lots to accomplish yet !
J
J
smydi01
Joined: October 14, 2009
KitMaker: 219 posts
Armorama: 197 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 03:21 AM UTC
Hi Jerry,
Love the back story. Hope it all works out the way you want. The canister looks great. Pity you found out about the handles afterwards. Good luck.
Wayne
Love the back story. Hope it all works out the way you want. The canister looks great. Pity you found out about the handles afterwards. Good luck.
Wayne
Dioramartin
Joined: May 04, 2016
KitMaker: 1,476 posts
Armorama: 1,463 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 03:34 AM UTC
Holy Multiple Projects JR, did you just knock this one up before breakfast?? Action, movement, in the moment…and presumably snow-bound? And an interesting footnote to boot, I never knew they managed this. A flying start so to speak, looking great. 
justsendit
Joined: February 24, 2014
KitMaker: 3,033 posts
Armorama: 2,492 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 04:45 AM UTC
Figure production spinning out of control!🌪 ... Way to keep our attention! ... Keep 'em coming, X-Acto Master! 🔪
—mike
—mike
panzerconor
Joined: February 08, 2012
KitMaker: 1,271 posts
Armorama: 1,253 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 10:09 AM UTC
Bout friggin' time!!
I knew you'd get around to posting this one hahaha. LIke I said before, EXCELLENT sense of movement, panic, desperation, etc. ICM figures are a surprise, but you manage to grab figures from across the spectrum and make them works of art. Patiently awaiting more.
Also, where did you read the account of this little recovery mission? DITM?
-COnor
I knew you'd get around to posting this one hahaha. LIke I said before, EXCELLENT sense of movement, panic, desperation, etc. ICM figures are a surprise, but you manage to grab figures from across the spectrum and make them works of art. Patiently awaiting more.
Also, where did you read the account of this little recovery mission? DITM?
-COnor
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 07:52 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Jerry,
Love the back story. Hope it all works out the way you want. The canister looks great. Pity you found out about the handles afterwards. Good luck.
Wayne
Thanks Wayne. The handles won't be an issue. Easy to sort out.
Way harder is getting both the squaddies hands to grip the handles convincingly.
J
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 07:57 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Holy Multiple Projects JR, did you just knock this one up before breakfast?? Action, movement, in the moment…and presumably snow-bound? And an interesting footnote to boot, I never knew they managed this. A flying start so to speak, looking great.
My work output has actually been very reduced recently but thanks for the encouragment buddy.
We have a problem in the states (me included) because we grew up reading history books written by Americans and they tend to overlook or even ignore the facts from the other side. Plus,the closer the book was written to the end of the war,the more just pure exaggeration enters in. Sort of national chest thumping if you will.
Lots more info out there now. Don't get me wrong,we thrashed them soundly here !
J
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 07:58 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Figure production spinning out of control!🌪 ... Way to keep our attention! ... Keep 'em coming, X-Acto Master! 🔪
—mike
I will do my best Mikey,
Gotta keep going ! resistance is futile !
J
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 07:59 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Bout friggin' time!!
I knew you'd get around to posting this one hahaha. LIke I said before, EXCELLENT sense of movement, panic, desperation, etc. ICM figures are a surprise, but you manage to grab figures from across the spectrum and make them works of art. Patiently awaiting more.
Also, where did you read the account of this little recovery mission? DITM?
-COnor
Thanks little brother,
Yep DITM number 3. Number 4 comes out this year ! Can't wait !
The anecdote I based this on took place along the western side of th pocket,between LeGleize and the Chateux. The surrounding area of the village is all farmland and the Ju52s were apparently trying to hit those areas. This is an impossibly hard job to do using just dead reconing. You had to just geuss the wind speed,etc. Our side knew what was going on as the 82nd Abn was positioned across the Ambleve valley around Chenuex and they could hear the aircraft. They thought it was a paratrooper drop though ! The sunrise on the following day quickly proved that folly.
J
panzerconor
Joined: February 08, 2012
KitMaker: 1,271 posts
Armorama: 1,253 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 08:36 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextBout friggin' time!!
I knew you'd get around to posting this one hahaha. LIke I said before, EXCELLENT sense of movement, panic, desperation, etc. ICM figures are a surprise, but you manage to grab figures from across the spectrum and make them works of art. Patiently awaiting more.
Also, where did you read the account of this little recovery mission? DITM?
-COnor
Thanks little brother,
Yep DITM number 3. Number 4 comes out this year ! Can't wait !
The anecdote I based this on took place along the eastern side of th pocket,between LeGleize and the Chateux. The surrounding area of the village is all farmland and the Ju52s were apparently trying to hit those areas. This is an impossibly hard job to do using just dead reconing. You had to just geuss the wind speed,etc. Our side knew what was going on as the 82nd Abn was positioned across the Ambleve valley around Chenuex and they could hear the aircraft. They thought it was a paratrooper drop though ! The sunrise on the following day quickly proved that folly.
J
Excellent! I've got DITM 3 actually. Must get around to sitting down and reading them front to back.
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 09:40 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextQuoted TextBout friggin' time!!
I knew you'd get around to posting this one hahaha. LIke I said before, EXCELLENT sense of movement, panic, desperation, etc. ICM figures are a surprise, but you manage to grab figures from across the spectrum and make them works of art. Patiently awaiting more.
Also, where did you read the account of this little recovery mission? DITM?
-COnor
Thanks little brother,
Yep DITM number 3. Number 4 comes out this year ! Can't wait !
The anecdote I based this on took place along the eastern side of th pocket,between LeGleize and the Chateux. The surrounding area of the village is all farmland and the Ju52s were apparently trying to hit those areas. This is an impossibly hard job to do using just dead reconing. You had to just geuss the wind speed,etc. Our side knew what was going on as the 82nd Abn was positioned across the Ambleve valley around Chenuex and they could hear the aircraft. They thought it was a paratrooper drop though ! The sunrise on the following day quickly proved that folly.
J
Excellent! I've got DITM 3 actually. Must get around to sitting down and reading them front to back.
Yes ! You should. Most books I speed read. A skill I picked up in a high school class that has served me well. But the DITM series I have read every word on every page about three times now. I am just enthralled by the writing style and the format. It is a manner that brings the story to life for me like a book never has before.
J
parrot
Joined: March 01, 2002
KitMaker: 1,607 posts
Armorama: 1,581 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2017 - 11:29 PM UTC
Your starting to get hard to keep up with Jerry.
Still working on "getting wet".
Don't stop.Learning a lot from you.
Tom
Still working on "getting wet".
Don't stop.Learning a lot from you.
Tom
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Monday, January 23, 2017 - 02:15 AM UTC
Thanks Mr Tom ! I am happy to see you are getting those enormous paint tins under control on that dio.
Small update although it required a lot of time with teeny stuff involved with me. I was happy to do so at it lets the realtime problems fade away because you need to concentrate on the minute task on hand.
I sanded and finished forming the putty areas,added the foiliage loops with lead foil and also the smock pockets. The weapons are of course just stuck on with clay.
Around the back I added the full combat gear. These guys were not from the halftrack Bn of LAH but rather the leg Bn that made its' way to LeGleize before the bridge at Petite Spai was collapsed by a Jagdpanzer driving over it. So they wear the assault gear unlike the halftrack dudes that usually only wore the ammo pouches and canteens,etc.
Still some tiny putty patches and then finalizing the two hands that are holding onto the drop canister. Then it is handed over to Earl Scheibs' paint shop. for coloring.
J
Small update although it required a lot of time with teeny stuff involved with me. I was happy to do so at it lets the realtime problems fade away because you need to concentrate on the minute task on hand.
I sanded and finished forming the putty areas,added the foiliage loops with lead foil and also the smock pockets. The weapons are of course just stuck on with clay.
Around the back I added the full combat gear. These guys were not from the halftrack Bn of LAH but rather the leg Bn that made its' way to LeGleize before the bridge at Petite Spai was collapsed by a Jagdpanzer driving over it. So they wear the assault gear unlike the halftrack dudes that usually only wore the ammo pouches and canteens,etc.
Still some tiny putty patches and then finalizing the two hands that are holding onto the drop canister. Then it is handed over to Earl Scheibs' paint shop. for coloring.
J
erichvon
Joined: January 17, 2006
KitMaker: 1,694 posts
Armorama: 1,584 posts
Posted: Monday, January 23, 2017 - 02:38 AM UTC
Love the way this is coming on Jerry even in it's infancy. I hadn't realised that they'd dropped supplies into La Gleize or anywhere else so I've learned something new already! It amazes me how you manage to get so much urgency and fluidity of movement in so easily. I don't know how you manage to have so many projects on the go at the same time either as at the moment I'm struggling to maintain enthusiasm for the one I'm on now lol. Looking forward to seeing more..Karl
pzandt
Joined: January 02, 2013
KitMaker: 68 posts
Armorama: 57 posts
Posted: Monday, January 23, 2017 - 04:17 AM UTC
I like the creative and unique thought. I look forward to seeing your vignette completed.
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Monday, January 23, 2017 - 07:22 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Love the way this is coming on Jerry even in it's infancy. I hadn't realised that they'd dropped supplies into La Gleize or anywhere else so I've learned something new already! It amazes me how you manage to get so much urgency and fluidity of movement in so easily. I don't know how you manage to have so many projects on the go at the same time either as at the moment I'm struggling to maintain enthusiasm for the one I'm on now lol. Looking forward to seeing more..Karl
They not only air dropped supplies but also tried to float barrels of fuel down the Ambleve river to Peipers' position and of course there was the kind of middle size drop of paras to the north of the initial penetration point of the offensive. The Luftwaffe was active right till the end but it was in small numbers and thus didn't get written about much till now. Of course there was the one large op called "Bodenplatte" where they launched about a thousand fighters on the same day for ground attacks. That turned out to be a disaster because they lost way too many trained leaders in that one strike.
Thanks for chining in buddy.
J
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Monday, January 23, 2017 - 07:23 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I like the creative and unique thought. I look forward to seeing your vignette completed.
Thanks Pascal,I appreciate it buddy,
J
ahandykindaguy
Joined: August 20, 2008
KitMaker: 1,295 posts
Armorama: 1,191 posts
Posted: Monday, January 23, 2017 - 07:58 PM UTC
Jerry, I too love the fact that your dioramas and vignettes always have a reference and start point in history! Your oratory always captures the moment so vividly, and it is always surpassed by your creativity with the number 11 blade, the green putty, and the sable brush... 
And how you can get, and keep 3 or five of these things going all a the same time still boggles my brain?
Keep it coming good sir!
And how you can get, and keep 3 or five of these things going all a the same time still boggles my brain?
Keep it coming good sir!
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Monday, January 23, 2017 - 08:12 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Jerry, I too love the fact that your dioramas and vignettes always have a reference and start point in history! Your oratory always captures the moment so vividly, and it is always surpassed by your creativity with the number 11 blade, the green putty, and the sable brush...
And how you can get, and keep 3 or five of these things going all a the same time still boggles my brain?
Keep it coming good sir!
Thanks buddy ! You always have such great things to say.
Well,first...I love history,specially the way that this series of books makes it come to life. Being a soldier for so long also helps put me in those soldiers' skins,as it were. I can imagine how pissed those two guys were to have to go out in no mans' land and retrieve those supplies under fire as I am almost certain that they didn't volunteer for the job.
As far as the multiple projects go,I am the same way with books. I almost always have 3 or 4 going at the same time. It keeps my interest up and helps to prevent burnout.
J
panamadan
Joined: July 20, 2004
KitMaker: 1,513 posts
Armorama: 1,449 posts
Posted: Monday, January 23, 2017 - 09:09 PM UTC
How much does a canister usually weight?
Dan
Dan
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Monday, January 23, 2017 - 10:14 PM UTC
Quoted Text
How much does a canister usually weight?
Dan
The canister itself is pretty light as are the 3 internal containers that allow you to separate the load.
Almost all the weight would come from the cargo. So,your question is hard to anser unless you know the load.
J
pgb3476
Joined: March 11, 2007
KitMaker: 977 posts
Armorama: 976 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - 12:29 AM UTC
Strange.....I'm only seeing some of the postings. For whatever reason, I'm not seeing any of Jerry's posts or Picture. Any ideas why? The same is occurring on both my Laptop and Smartphone.....
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